TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 5, 7 February 1890, Page 2

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS IN AN OPEN BOAT.

A fisherman was rescued on Sunday from an open boat in Hobson’s Bay after a terrible experience. He was named Charles Bailey, arid was one of two, the other being James Page, who went out from Beaumaris, some distance below Brighton, on Thursday afternoon last. The craft they set out was a half-deckeramng boat, their object being to meet a pleasure party at Mornington. There was a rough choppy sea to be encountered, and their steering was attended with considerable difficulty; still they managed to breast the swell, Bailey and Page taking the tiller alternately. While Bailey was endeavoring to relieve himself of his clo thing, which had got wet through, a wave of tremendous force struck the side of their boat and sent her almost side over. Before she recovered an even keel another billow dashed against her, filing her completely. The efforts ol: the men to 'regain their places were futile, and they were driven to the desperate necessity of clinging to their craft as well as they could. This was no easy task in the heavy sea prevailing, but they faced the situation. The boat would not hold both men at one time. They were at first throvm out into the sea, but after a hard struggle' they regained the boat. She would hold one safely enough, but as soon as both of them attempted to get into her they would be again cast out. The accident happened shortly after 2 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, and from then for nearly six hours this sort of struggle was continued. The poor fellows were terribly distressed by their exertions, and to add to their sufferings the sun beat down on their heads with almost overpowering effect. They felt that it was driving them mad. Taking turn by turn in the boat while the other clung on at the side, they managed to tear their clothing, and by fastening some of the strips together they made a covering for their heads, which acted as some protection against the sun. They struggled on hi this way till about eight o’clock without chancing upon any assistance, or drifting any nearer the land. Page had been rapidly growing weaker and weaker, and at last remarked to his companion that he could hold on no longer. _ Three successive times he loosed his hold, and each time Bailey, although all but exhausted himself, got him back to the boat, and urged him to hold on and hope on. Soon afterwards a wave ..struck him, carried him away, and he was never sccn-agakkr—Bailey scramb - led into the water-logged boat, and there he remained, drifting aimlessly about, without without water, and with no means of guiding his boat at all. Daylight came and brought with it hope of speedy assistance, but a,Vi Friday passed and still he was not rescued. * His thirst became almost unendurable. He could not sleep, though he was exhausted with the long straggle he had gone through during the night. A southerly wind held through all this time, and the wreck was buffeted about in a woeful way. Friday night seemed even longer than the preceding one, and he scarcely hoped to survive it. On Saturday he felt certain help would come, but he passed that day and night as the others, only growing weaker. When Sunday arrived he was nearly despairing, having become almost senseless, and too weak to gaze out over the glittering sea for the aid that was so long in coming. The schooner Swallow, on. her way to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, discerned a strange object in the water. The captain at once concluded it was a case of distress, and he had a boat put oh to the rescue. When the disabled boat was reached, the sufferer was scarcely conscious, and quite speechless. He was put to bed on arrival at Williamstown, and is likely to recover. When it is remembered how fearfully strong the sun’s rays were on the three (lays he was out, some idea may be formed of what he suffered. With a blazing sun at over 140 degrees, it is a wonder he kept life through his dreadful experience.